Clip for electronic cigarette

ABSTRACT

A clip for or a method of clipping an electronic cigarette having a box and a tank to a person. The clip includes: an adapter interconnecting the box and the tank; a collar adapted to fit around the adapter; a washer, one side of the washer adapted to engage the box and another side adapted to engage the collar; and a fastener affixed to an exterior face of the collar.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/092,339 filed Dec. 16, 2014, incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The instant application is directed to a clip for an electronic cigarette.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The technology related to electronic cigarettes is evolving rapidly. The earlier versions (also known as the first generation electronic cigarettes or e-cigs), include the popular “blu e-cig,” that looked like conventional cigarettes; but, later versions depart from the cigarette look. The later versions include a box (generally for housing a battery and at least some of the electronics used by the cigarette), and a tank that may be coupled to the box. These later versions have a much greater capacity, meaning that they can be smoked for longer periods of time without recharging and/or refilling. See generally Electronic Cigarette, Wikipedia, Dec. 9, 2014, incorporated herein by reference.

The larger new versions, however, can be awkward to carry. Some have provided “clips” that are attached to the electronic cigarette and allow the cigarette to the carried on the person of the user. These clips are shown in the PRIOR ART illustrations (FIGS. 7-13). These clips, however, are wanting.

There is a need for a clip for an electronic cigarette, specifically an electronic cigarette having an box and tank (as described above), that is an improvement (e.g., more secure on or more difficult to dislodge from the electronic cigarette) over the previous clips offered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A clip for or a method of clipping an electronic cigarette having a box and a tank to a person. The clip includes: an adapter interconnecting the box and the tank; a collar adapted to fit around the adapter; a washer, one side of the washer adapted to engage the box and another side adapted to engage the collar; and a fastener affixed to an exterior face of the collar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of an embodiment of the instant invention attached to an electronic cigarette.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 5 is another alternate embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of another embodiment of the fastener.

FIGS. 7-13 are illustrations of prior art clips for electronic cigarettes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings wherein like elements have like numerals, there is shown in FIG. 1 an embodiment of the inventive clip 30 connected to an electronic cigarette 10.

In FIG. 1, the electronic cigarette 10, for example, a third generation electronic cigarette, is shown. The electronic cigarette (or e-cig) 10 generally includes a box 12 and a tank 14. Electronic cigarette 10 and its components (box 12 and tank 14) are conventional, unless otherwise noted.

Box 12 may include, among other things, one or more batteries (not shown, but conventional) and the electronics (not shown, but conventional) necessary to the operation of the electronic cigarette 10. The electronics may include, for example, circuitry to vary or control voltage, wattage, amperage, and temperature. Additionally, the box may include a connector plate 13 (see FIG. 3). Plate 13 may include one of more grooves (these groves may act as air vents). Plate 13 may be a commercially available “510” connector.

Tank (or atomizer) 14 may include a mouth piece 16, a juice reservoir 18, juice 20, and a heating element 22. These elements are arranged in a conventional fashion. Juice refers to the conventional liquid atomized to smoke by the electronic cigarette 10.

Clip 30 generally includes: an adapter 24, a collar 32, a fastener 34 affixed to the collar 32, and a washer 36. Clip 30 may be secured on the electronic cigarette 10 between box 12 and tank 14 and surrounds adapter 24 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

Adapter 24 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) interconnects box 12 with tank 14. Adapter 24 may be any adapter having a male lower section and an female upper section. The tank 12 may be screwed into adapter 24, and then adapter 24 may be screwed into box 12 (for example via connector plate 13). Adapter 24 may be a commercially available “510” adapter.

Collar 32, in the embodiment best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, may be annular and include a lower open cavity 38. Cavity 38 may be defined by an exterior annular wall, an interior annular wall (e.g., for frictional engagement with adapter 24), and an upper surface joining the exterior and interior walls. One or more grippers 44 (see FIG. 4) may be located along an inner surface of the of the lower cavity 38 for engaging the washer 36. Grippers 44 may be in the form of a tooth or blade connected to (or projecting from) the sides and top surfaces of the cavity 38 (see, for example, FIG. 4), or in the form of spikes connected to (or projecting from) the top surface of cavity 38 (not shown). Cavity 38 may have any cross-sectional configuration. Cavity 38 may be sized, so that washer 36 fills the entire cavity.

Collar 32′ (see FIG. 4) is an alternate embodiment of the clip 30. Collar 32′ includes the lower cavity 38 (described above), an upper open cavity 40 defined by exterior wall 41, with a divider plate 42 therebetween. Upper cavity 40 may also include an inner wall (not shown) defining the adapter opening through plate 42. Upper cavity is sized to fit tank 14. Wall 41 may include one or more air vents 46. Vents 46 may be cut-outs (shown) or holes (not shown) through wall 41.

Collar 32″ (FIG. 5) is still another embodiment and may be the same as collar 32 except without the lower annular cavity 38. In this embodiment, the washer does not fit into any cavity of the collar, but instead is fit between the collar 32″ (a flat annular member) and the box (or plate 13 of box 12). The diameter of the washer and the collar may the same or different.

Fastener 34 is affixed to an exterior surface of the collar 32. Fastener 32 may be removably affixed or permanently affixed to the collar. The fastener may be any fastener configuration. For example, the fastener 34 may be clip (see FIGS. 1-3 and 5), i.e., a generally flat flexible tongue with a curve therein that may bear against box 12, or a ring (see FIG. 6).

Collar 32 and fastener 34 may be made of any material. Such materials may include metal and/or plastic.

Washer 36 is an annular ring of resilient or elastic material, for example, rubber. Washer 36 may have any cross-sectional configuration. In one embodiment, washer 36 has a square or rectangular cross-section. Washer 36 is sized to fill cavity 38. Washer 38 may extend beyond the open end of the cavity 38. Washer 38 may extend slightly beyond the open end of the cavity 38 (slightly means the extension beyond the open end is less than 3% of the cavity depth, or less than 1% of the cavity depth).

The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A clip for an electronic cigarette having a box and a tank comprises: an adapter interconnecting the box and the tank; a collar adapted to fit around the adapter; a washer, one side of the washer adapted to engage the box and another side adapted to engage the collar; and a fastener affixed to an exterior face of the collar.
 2. The clip of claim 1 wherein the collar includes a lower open annular cavity on a bottom side of the collar.
 3. The clip of claim 2 wherein the cavity further comprises a gripper projecting from an interior surface of the cavity and engaging the washer.
 4. The clip of claim 1 wherein the fastener is releasably or permanently affixed to the collar.
 5. The clip of claim 1 wherein the collar further comprises an upper open cavity sized to fit the tank therein.
 6. The clip of claim 5 wherein the upper cavity includes a wall with an air vent therethrough.
 7. The clip of claim 2 wherein the washer substantially fills the lower cavity.
 8. The clip of claim 1 wherein the washer is made of a resilient material.
 9. The clip of claim 1 wherein the washer has a rectangular cross-section.
 10. A clip for an electronic cigarette having a box and a tank comprises: an adapter interconnecting the box and the tank; a collar with a lower open annular cavity on a bottom side of the collar, the collar adapted to fit around the adapter; a resilient washer sized to fit in the cavity and having a rectangular cross-section, one side of the washer adapted to engage the box; a gripper projecting from an interior surface of the cavity and engaging the washer; and a fastener affixed to an exterior face of the collar.
 11. A method for clipping an electronic cigarette to a user, the electronic cigarette having a box and a tank comprises the steps of: connecting the box and the tank with an adapter; providing a clip including a collar adapted to fit around the adapter; a washer, one side of the washer adapted to engage the box and another side adapted to engage the collar; and a fastener affixed to an exterior face of the collar.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the collar includes a lower open annular cavity on a bottom side of the collar.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the cavity further comprises a gripper projecting from an interior surface of the cavity and engaging the washer.
 14. The method of claim 11 wherein the fastener is releasably or permanently affixed to the collar.
 15. The method of claim 11 wherein the collar further comprises an upper open cavity sized to fit the tank therein.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the upper cavity includes a wall with an air vent therethrough.
 17. The method of claim 12 wherein the washer substantially fills the lower cavity.
 18. The method of claim 11 wherein the washer is made of a resilient material.
 19. The method of claim 11 wherein the washer has a rectangular cross-section. 